BAE systems wins contract

Under a contract worth $3.4m, the US

(DARPA) has selected

to create advanced software development tools and processes for changing military needs.

Large scale software systems will be adapted to take account of emerging threats such as asymmetric warfare and the use of unconventional tactics.

DARPA’s Producible Adaptive Model-based Software (PAMS) program will develop software that enables systems to learn from their performance relative to changing conditions. The contract includes an option for a second phase which is worth a further $3.4m.

‘Department of Defense systems are increasingly software-intensive,’ said Joseph McCarthy, vice president of communication and tactical networks for BAE. ‘So it’s important for future net-centric systems to adapt to changing warfighter requirements. PAMS will significantly improve the effectiveness and reduce the cost of developing complex software systems compared to traditional approaches.’

PAMS will be tested using flight-control and vehicle-management software and on software-defined radios, such as the joint tactical radio system, to show their applicability across various software domains.